You live in my neck of the woods. If you have a trailer there is a gaited horse trainer that does lessons in Anza , it would be worth the drive to get some professional help. I also have my first gaited horse and even though I have been riding all my life, gaited horses are different. It helped 100% to have a trained set of eyes on the ground. Let me know if you want her name.

Thanks! I need to figure out if she is, in fact, gaited first I think. I don't have a trailer, but maybe I can rent one if I needed to? Thanks for the info!

Wow, today I rode Snickers and she trotted beautifully! I was able to post it without any problem. The only thing I did today that had been different, was try a new bit. She normally carries herself with her neck stretched and low....today was no different, but she was very light and better than she even normally is. Maybe the bit helped her position her body better?

i love a horse that single foots. I have crappy knees/back and cannot post without extreme pain. I would love to have a nice horse that gaits again, but not to tall !.

That's how I feel too now. You definitely don't HAVE to post on her. She is as smooth as butter and only 14.1hh! She really is an easygoing joy. She is the only horse I've ever stood up on, turned around on bareback and can slide off her butt. And to be such a good girl without training except for me! A miracle.

However, I am beginning to think that she has a hip issue....either a deformity or an injury she sustained as a foal. It doesn't seem painful to her, but more annoying. She tries so hard and when her body doesn't do what she wants or gets tangled up, she crow hops and starts over. But it's not consistent either. Sometimes she is very smooth and coordinated. I will have the vet re-evaluate her again this spring. Otherwise continue to hopefully strengthen her a little more.

I'm hoping you can see this video. You can really see it the second time she canters in it.

Oh that looks like a lameness issue, not a gaited. She is really pretty. I would say it is her stifle or hip or pelvis area, has she been nerve blocked to see if it is in her lower leg or upper leg? It could be lower leg, and she has learned how to move without it being as painful .

oh that looks like a lameness issue, not a gaited. She is really pretty. I would say it is her stifle or hip or pelvis area, has she been nerve blocked to see if it is in her lower leg or upper leg? It could be lower leg, and she has learned how to move without it being as painful .

I haven't had any treatments yet since it has been more mysterious than anything since I adopted her. When I got her I had a vet evaluate her since she looked kinda 'off' as a butt high two year old. I thought neurological since her hind end seemed what I called 'loose'. Vet said it was because she was butt high and a young draft cross growing into her legs. She used to hop a lot when slowing down from the trot or canter when I got her. She doesn't do that anymore. I started her as a three year old this summer. That was when I noticed in her trot that her hind legs were plaiting and her gait was wierd, even though very smooth. I've had a chiro, massage therapist, vet, trainers and horse friends scratching their heads. I have been trying to strengthen her muscles with trails and hills and exercising her slowly. She has improved, but, obviously, she is not normal. But under saddle she has really come along. Maybe she is holding her body in a better position than when she is just out running around on her own. Maybe she does it to please me. I wish she could talk! If I ever felt she was in pain, I wouldn't ride her or continue. But she really is very willing and seems happy. She never shows signs of lameness outside of when she is running around and has the downward transition. I will have another vet evaluate her again this spring when she needs shots.

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